Publications by authors named "Jacob M Elkins"

Resident synovial macrophages (RSMs) are anti-inflammatory, self-renewing macrophages that provide physical immune sequestration of the joint space from the peripheral immune system. Increased permeability of this structure is associated with peripheral immune cells in the synovial fluid (SF). Direct measures of synovial barrier integrity are possible with tissue histology, but after barrier breakdown, if these cells perpetuate or initiate chronic inflammation in SF remains unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Direct anterior total hip arthroplasty (DA-THA) has increased in popularity over recent decades. However, DA-THA has been reported to have a higher incidence of superficial wound complications, including infection and incisional dehiscence, compared to other surgical approaches to hip arthroplasty. While this indicates a need for optimal wound closure, little research exists on the preferred method of skin closure following DA-THA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: 30-day readmission is an important quality metric evaluated following primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) that has implications for hospital performance and reimbursement. Differences in how 30-day readmissions are defined between Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other quality improvement programs (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Anatomic patellar components for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have demonstrated favorable in vivo kinematics. A novel failure mechanism in TKA patients with an anatomic patellar component was observed prompting an investigation to identify patient- and implant-related factors associated with suboptimal performance.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed comparing 100 TKA patients with an anatomic patellar component to 100 gender-, age-, and body mass index-matched patients with a medialized dome component.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on patients seeking total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA, TKA) including more patients undergoing same day discharge (SDD) following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The purpose of this study was to assess whether expansion of SDD TJA during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more early complications following TJA. We anticipated that as many institutions quickly launched SDD TJA programs there may be an increase in 30-day complications.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Bioimpedance-derived whole body phase angle (ϕ) is linked to cellular integrity and has been shown to be a marker of morbidity and mortality, but its potential as a pre-operative marker in orthopaedics has not been explored until this study.
  • The study retrospectively analyzed data from adult patients to find correlations between ϕ, extracellular edema (EE), body composition, lab values, patient outcomes, and comorbidities.
  • Results showed that a higher ϕ positively correlated with lean body metrics and negatively with age and body fat, while EE had strong positive correlations with body fat and age, suggesting that ϕ could serve as a useful pre-operative risk assessment tool in orthopaedics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Resident synovial macrophages (RSM) provide immune sequestration of the joint space and are likely involved in initiation and perpetuation of the joint-specific immune response. We sought to identify RSM in synovial fluid (SF) and demonstrate migratory ability, in additional to functional changes that may perpetuate a chronic inflammatory response within joint spaces.

Methods: We recruited human patients presenting with undifferentiated arthritis in multiple clinical settings.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop projections of the prevalence of obesity in aseptic revision THA and TKA patients through the year 2029.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) was queried for years 2011-2019. Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes 27134, 27137, and 27138 were used to identify revision THA and CPT codes 27486 and 27487 were used to identify revision TKA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), while rare, are a devasting complication of both total joint arthroplasty (TJA). With most patients undergoing surgical treatment for PJI, options vary between one-stage or two-stage (the gold standard) procedures. Debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) procedures are a common, less morbid alternative to two-stage revisions, but patients undergoing DAIR procedures more often experience reinfections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To determine whether deficient early callus formation can be defined objectively based on the association with an eventual nonunion and specific patient, injury, and treatment factors.

Methods: Final healing outcomes were documented for 160 distal femur fractures treated with locked bridge plate fixation. Radiographic callus was measured on postoperative radiographs until union or nonunion had been declared by the treating surgeon.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Malalignment of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components is a potential cause of clinical failure following TKA. Since the goal of a gap balancing (GB) technique is equal flexion and extension gaps secondary to soft-tissue balancing, and not necessarily component alignment, variation in component placement may exist. Our purpose was (1) to evaluate precision of component alignment in well-functioning GB TKAs performed without the aid of navigation using computed tomographic evaluation and (2) to determine any relationship between femoral version and/or tibial torsion and TKA component positioning.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Smoking is a significant risk factor for complications after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), and this study investigates the impact of a smoking cessation requirement on patient outcomes prior to surgery.
  • Of the 101 surveyed patients, 62% successfully quit smoking before TJA, with 51% remaining smoke-free six months post-surgery, and many quit without any aids.
  • The study found that patients who quit smoking had a lower rate of wound complications compared to those who continued smoking, highlighting the importance of cessation for better surgical outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Patients often turn to the online resources to learn about orthopedic procedures. As the rate of joint arthroplasty is projected to increase, the corresponding interest in relevant online education material will increase as well. The American Medical Association (AMA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that publicly available online health information be written at the 6th grade or lower reading level to be fully understood by the average adult in the United States.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a readily available tool to assess body composition in a clinical setting. BIA has received little attention in orthopaedics and namely joint arthroplasty. This study aims to quantify changes in body composition in the immediate peri-operative period following total joint arthroplasty.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: While muscle atrophy is a function of normal aging, loss of muscle in the setting of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been observed using radiographic studies. There is limited data available regarding changes in extremity composition using bioimpedance (BIA). The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in extremity composition in patients with isolated, unilateral hip or knee OA using BIA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is routinely used for preoperative risk stratification; however, it does not provide a detailed assessment of body composition and intentional weight loss alone may not decrease complications. Sarcopenia-a disorder involving low muscle mass, quality, or performance-has been associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications and is treatable through nutritional supplementation or resistance training. It, counterintuitively, may occur with obesity as "sarcopenic obesity"; however, the prevalence is not widely known.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The use of claims databases for research after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA, TKA) has increased exponentially. These studies rely on accurate coding, and inadvertent inclusion of patients with nonroutine indications may influence results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complexity of THA and TKA captured by CPT code and determine if complication rates vary based on the indication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for complications following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study is to utilize 3 national databases to develop projections of obesity within the general population and primary TKA patients in the United States through 2029.

Methods: Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were queried for years 1999-2019.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Unabated increases in the prevalence of obesity among American adults have disproportionately affected women, Black persons, and Hispanic persons. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for disparity in rates of patient eligibility for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) based on race and ethnicity and gender by applying commonly used body mass index (BMI) eligibility criteria to two large national databases.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database for the years 2015-2019 for primary THA and TKA and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011-2018.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Obesity is associated with higher rates of adverse outcomes following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study is to utilize 3 national databases to develop projections of obesity within the general population and primary THA patients in the United States through 2029.

Methods: Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were queried for years 1999-2019.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Spinopelvic pathology has been identified as a potential risk factor for instability after total hip arthroplasty. Spinopelvic radiographic parameters used to diagnose spinopelvic disease may also impact optimal cup placement. The purpose of this study was to assess the arthroplasty surgeon accuracy in making spinopelvic measurements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: Of growing concern in arthroplasty is the emergence of atypical infections, particularly (formerly ) sp. infections. Currently, the dermal colonization rate of about the hip is unknown.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In an effort to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic and preserve essential health care resources, starting in mid-March 2020, surgeons have been instructed to only perform essential surgical procedures. The vast majority of hip and knee arthroplasty surgery does not meet the definition of essential surgery. This study estimated the number of arthroplasty procedures that would be canceled because of these important restrictions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The United States is in an obesity epidemic. Obesity has multiple common comorbid conditions, including lower extremity arthritis. We sought to examine the course of treatment for a population with body mass index (BMI) ≥40 kg/m and osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF